Meet the Competitors of Mascot Madness 2019 – Region 4

Our yearly competition to figure out who is New York’s number one mascot has returned! We’re celebrating our 7th anniversary of the SUNY Mascot Madness tournament, and we’re excited to see what our 34 mascot competitors bring to the table this year. Our mascots are eagerly anticipating the first round, which kicks off on Tuesday, March 19. The schedule for the entire tournament is as follows, by round:

Round 1: Tuesday, March 19 12:00 p.m. – Friday, March 22 3:00 p.m.

Round 2: Tuesday, March 26 12:00 p.m. – Thursday, March 28 3:00 p.m.

Round 3: Friday, March 29 12:00 p.m. – Tuesday, April 2 3:00 p.m.

Final Four: Wednesday, April 3 12:00 p.m. – Friday, April 5 3:00 p.m.

Finals: Tuesday, April 9 12:00 p.m. – Thursday, April 11 3:00 p.m.

Yet before you cast your vote, you need to get to know our competitors and what they’re all about. Check out the profiles below, in alphabetical order, to learn all about our competing SUNY Mascots in Region 4 of the bracket to help you make your decision:

Benji the Bengal – SUNY Buffalo State

Who are you, where are you from, and who do you represent?Benji the Bengal. I’m originally from Bangladesh. My family moved to the United States to join the circus when I was very young. Seeking a better life for myself, I enrolled at Buffalo State in 1969 and have been here ever since. I completed my bachelor’s degree in business marketing, but got my master’s in higher education and student affairs administration before securing a full-time position on campus as the mascot.

What is your wackiest attribute?You can tell my mood by looking at the positioning of my ears.

What would your autobiography be called and why?“Beyond the Stripes: The story of one cool cat” because I’m a cool cat.

What is the biggest school victory/triumph you have been witness to?A win is a win. I love all of my teams equally and get excited for any Bengal victory.

Who is your on-campus partner that helps you stay on top of your game, the Robin to your Batman?President Katherine Conway-Turner

If you could trade places with any mascot for a day, who would it be and why?Billy Buffalo of the Buffalo Bills. I’d love to drive that ATV out of the tunnel in front of 70,000 screaming fans!

Should you make it to the finals, what would your entrance song be when you enter the final competition?The Foggy Dew – the same song Conor McGregor uses to enter the octagon

What is your favorite series to binge watch?The Real Housewives of Orange Country

Everyone has a good app idea. What’s yours?A-Harmony – like E-Harmony, it will be a dating app for animals. I love my life, but I’m ready to meet my special someone.

What one fact about your school do you love to surprise your fans with?Buffalo State did not have an official mascot for its sports teams until 1969. For most of its early history, the sports teams were called the “Orange” and sometime the “Orangemen”. This name was simply derived from the college’s colors of orange and black. Because the “Orange” and “Orangemen” nickname was often confused with the sports teams at Syracuse University that used the same moniker, Buffalo State men’s basketball team adopted the nickname of the “Billies” during the 1950s, and for a few years the school’s mascot was a goat. Other shortlived nicknames included the “Teachers”, the “Normals” and the “Frontiersmen”. Finally, in 1969, a campus-wide contest was held to find a new, permanent name and mascot. On December 1, 1969, the Buffalo State “Orangemen” men’s basketball team opened its regular season against Toronto University. At halftime, the winning nickname was announced, and Buffalo State returned from the locker room for the second half as the “Bengals” and have been known by that name ever since.

Blaze the Bronco – SUNY Delhi

Who are you, where are you from, and who do you represent?I am Blaze the Bronco from SUNY Delhi.

What is your wackiest attribute?Unlike other mascots, I’m not just a one trick pony when it comes to dancing. I can floss, I can do the running-man, and I can do every Fortnite dance move!

What would your autobiography be called and why?Blazing the Trailbecause I arrived just in time to give some extra school spirit as the campus grows and expands. We have added several new bachelor degree programs, just joined NCAA Division III athletics, and are expanding facilities including a new student-run restaurant and a new turf field coming soon!

What is the biggest school victory/triumph you have been witness toI joined the SUNY Delhi community in 2017 to lead the charge of us joining NCAA Division III athletics.

Who is your on-campus partner that helps you stay on top of your game, the Robin to your Batman?Tomás Aguirre, Vice President of Student Life keeps me on the tips of my hooves!

If you could trade places with any mascot for a day, who would it be and why?I think Miles from the Denver Broncos would be willing to do a stadium swap! Being broncos, we go way back and can help each other ignite the Bronco spirit!

Should you make it to the finals, what would your entrance song be when you enter the final competition?Champion by Carrie Underwood ft. Ludacris. Broncos never give up!

What is your favorite series to binge watch?I am patiently waiting to see what Eleven & friends will be up to in this season of Stranger Things!

Everyone has a good app idea. What’s yours?I know SUNY Delhi students would love an app that alerts them when parking spaces open up on campus or near their buildings!

What one fact about your school do you love to surprise your fans with?SUNY Delhi has national champions spread all throughout campus! In 2018 we racked up titles in Cross Country, Golf, the American Culinary Federation National Student Chef of the Year, and the National Association of Home Builders Associate Program Student Championship!

Chester the Viking – Westchester Community College

Who are you, where are you from, and who do you represent?I am Chester the Viking. Originally from Norway, I now reside in the Hamlet of Valhalla, New York. But I am truly from the open seas and consider the long-boat to be my home as I pursue a life fulfilled until I can go to the real Valhalla. I truly represent generations of explorers and warriors who came before me to establish our family name. However, for SUNY Mascot Madness, I represent Westchester Community College as the one true Viking in all of sports.

What is your wackiest attribute?I am the (Vi)king of the dancefloor … I call it “Chester Choreography.”

What would your autobiography be called and why?“Perfection at Procrastination: How a Young Viking Strove to be Awesome … Some Day.” Need I say more?

What is the biggest school victory/triumph you have been witness to?The opening round of SUNY Mascot Madness 2018. I was seeded #6 and went up against Blaze (SUNY Delhi) who was seeded third. And I won … big. It wasn’t even close. They said it couldn’t be done, but I did it. They’re still calling it the ‘Miracle of Madness.’

Who is your on-campus partner that helps you stay on top of your game, the Robin to your Batman?Michael Belfiore, the Athletic Director at Westchester Community College. Some say I would not even exist without him.

If you could trade places with any mascot for a day, who would it be and why?My good friend Gritty from the Philadelphia Flyers. I am truly jealous of Gritty. Once you become a mascot, you are not allowed to get wet. I had to sacrifice my oceanic exploration to embrace mascothood. Gritty gets to spend his days on the ice, which reminds me of home, and is the closest any one of us will ever get to the ocean again. Plus, Westchester Community College does not give me a sword, but the Flyers have provided Gritty with an unlimited supply of hockey sticks. Close enough!

Should you make it to the finals, what would your entrance song be when you enter the final competitionWell, it can’t be “Born in the USA” since I wasn’t, nor can it be “Eye of the Tiger” since I am a Viking and not a Tiger, and since there is no Viking song, I would have to pick “Staying Alive” by the BeeGees. After all, isn’t that the supreme goal each one of us has?

What is your favorite series to binge watch?“Vikings” of course. Duh! Or maybe “Grey’s Anatomy.” Nah, definitely “Vikings.”

Everyone has a good app idea. What’s yours?An app called “Night Out” for which you can enter things you would like to do during a given evening, and the App lists everything within specified distance from your current location that is from your preference list, including reservation information, wait times, etc. For example, if your plans are to eat dinner, then go bowling, then go to a pub, you can enter this into your app, and receive lists of places to go within a distance of your current location, so you can make plans, and then change plans if necessary. You can make reservations within the app, check real-time wait-times, etc. You can plan your entire night based on your location, using this one app. Avoid lines and waits this way, so you can spend more time having fun!

What one fact about your school do you love to surprise your fans with?Our football team has not lost a regular season game in more than 20 years.

Mustang – SUNY Morrisville

Who are you, where are you from, and who do you represent?I’m Mustang, from the ‘Ville, representing the #StangGang of SUNY Morrisville!

What is your wackiest attribute?I’m hands-on…with hooves!

What would your autobiography be called and why?The Mane Event.” Always the star of the show, in case you didn’t know, it’s like a pay-per-view everywhere I go!

What is the biggest school victory/triumph you have been witness to?So many to choose from, but I have to say SUNY Morrisville being named the Grand National Champion of the 2018 U.S. Open College Beer Championship, as presented to the college that brews the best beers in North America. It took a lot of taste-testing from the trough, but well worth it!

Who is your on-campus partner that helps you stay on top of your game, the Robin to your Batman?The SUNY Morrisville Equine Rehab Center (ERC). The staff at this world-class facility always keep me on my legs and ready to go. They did wonders helping me recuperate from a recent bout of plantar hoovitis.

If you could trade places with any mascot for a day, who would it be and why?The Burger King, because who doesn’t want to be the king?

What is your favorite series to binge watch?BoJack Horseman, for obvious reasons.

Everyone has a good app idea. What’s yours?I love food, particularly hoof-food items, so I always wanted to create a “Horse D’oeuvres” app that can be used for shared recipes, meal plans and “food selfies.”

What one fact about your school do you love to surprise your fans with?We can turn fish poop into tasty lettuce!

OWWIN – SUNY Old Westbury

Who are you, where are you from, and who do you represent?Hi, I’m OWWIN (broken down OW-WIN) from the rolling hills of Old Westbury, New York, representing SUNY Old Westbury.

What is your wackiest attribute?The OW imprint on my chest.

What would your autobiography be called and why?#PawsUp

What is the biggest school victory/triumph you have been witness to?Winning the Skyline Conference men’s and women’s basketball championships in 2015-16.

Who is your on-campus partner that helps you stay on top of your game, the Robin to your Batman?Our cheerleaders.

If you could trade places with any mascot for a day, who would it be and why?Mr. Met. He’s the New York State’s most iconic professional mascot.

Should you make it to the finals, what would your entrance song be when you enter the final competition?The Champ is Here by Jadakiss (the edited version, of course)

What is your favorite series to binge watch?The Pink Panther. He paved the way for all Panthers!

Everyone has a good app idea. What’s yours?Mascot Finder. I can track down my competition and challenge them whenever I feel like it!

What one fact about your school do you love to surprise your fans with?We have 665 acres to roam free and prance around on. DM me to set a time to chill.

Ram-Bo – Farmingdale State College

Who are you, where are you from, and who do you represent?I’m Ram-bo, I’m on loan from the Bronx Zoo, and I’m the official mascot at Farmingdale State College.

What would your autobiography be called and why?The Ram, the Myth, the Legend. I think the title says it all.

What is the biggest school victory/triumph you have been witness to?My favorite victory was when our men’s baseball team won the NCAA New York Regionals and advanced to the College World Series.

Who is your on-campus partner that helps you stay on top of your game, the Robin to your Batman?My on-campus partner is Eunice the Ewe. She keeps me honest by reminding me that I’m not the president of the college.

If you could trade places with any mascot for a day, who would it be and why?I would trade places with the mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies major league baseball team, the Philly Phanatic. I’m a fanatic too, and I’d like to be paid like one just once.

Should you make it to the finals, what would your entrance song be when you enter the final competition?“Ewe make me feel brand new,” a 1973 hit by The Stylistics.

What is your favorite series to binge watch?“The Zoo,” on Animal Planet.

Everyone has a good app idea. What’s yours?I would call it “On the Horns of a Dilemma.” It would solve everyone’s ethical issues.

What one fact about your school do you love to surprise your fans with?I tell everyone that Farmingdale State College used to be an agricultural school, and that once upon a time animals roamed the campus. Especially rams and ewes.

Tripp the Thunderwolf – Niagara County Community College

Who are you, where are you from, and who do you represent?I’m a Thunderwolf named Tripp, and I love chips and dip. I rep Niagara County Community College, where everyone comes to get knowledge. I’m one of a kind, but I go to all the games, so I’m not hard to find.

What is your wackiest attribute?My wackiest attribute are my eyes-the better to see you with.

What would your autobiography be called and why?My autobiography would be called A Tail of Two Cities, because I represent two campuses: Niagara County Community College in Sanborn and the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute.

What is the biggest school victory/triumph you have been witness to?The women’s basketball team went undefeated this year, and by crushing JCC and MCC in the regional tournament, our Lady Thunderwolves clinched a spot in the NJCAA National Tournament in Harrison, Arkansas.

Who is your on-campus partner that helps you stay on top of your game, the Robin to your Batman?I’m a lone wolf.

If you could trade places with any mascot for a day, who would it be and why?I wouldn’t. Furget about any other mascot. I’m pawsitively wonderful. #furreal #furrocious #thunder

Should you make it to the finals, what would your entrance song be when you enter the final competition?Thunderstruck by AC/DC

What is your favorite series to binge watch?Paw Patrol

Everyone has a good app idea. What’s yours?My app idea is Furbook, where I connect with she-wolves and fur friends.

What one fact about your school do you love to surprise your fans with?Many fans would be surprised to know that NCCC has its very own bowling alley. When I’m not out cheering for our teams, I’m rolling with my friends in the alley.

Victor E. Knight – SUNY Geneseo

Who are you, where are you from, and who do you represent?Victor E. Knight from SUNY Geneseo. I represent the #OneKnight community for Geneseo and I bleed BLUE and WHITE.

What is your wackiest attribute?My dancing moves.

What would your autobiography be called and why?A Knight’s Tale, because I’m a knight and I have a story to tell.

What is the biggest school victory/triumph you have been witness to?There have been many, from swimming and hockey champions to scholarly research and articles.

Who is your on-campus partner that helps you stay on top of your game, the Robin to your Batman?Starbucks, a quad espresso really gets me going.

If you could trade places with any mascot for a day, who would it be and why?Rip van Winkle, he has a nice beard and is well rested. The excessive sleepiness does scare me a bit.

Should you make it to the finals, what would your entrance song be when you enter the final competition?‘A Hard Day’s (K)Night’ by The Beatles

What is your favorite series to binge watch?Game of Thrones

Everyone has a good app idea. What’s yours?Knight-2-Meet-U, it’s an app for helping knights find local jousting tournaments.

What one fact about your school do you love to surprise your fans with?The fact that Geneseo has some of the best views for sunsets in New York.